THE VIOXX LITIGATION, AS SEEN BY MERCK . . . Recently, Merck unveiled a website about the Vioxx litigation titled "Learn about Vioxx" which, if nothing else, will allow it to keep its defenses straight. (Link from Point of Law.)

Looking through the website, I wondered about its intended audience. Is it consumers? Doctors? The press? Since you'd think that anyone wanting to learn about Vioxx would look for a source that's less biased, it's hard to say whether anyone will use the website as it's intended. On the other hand, it would be a good resource for defense associates around the country who are gearing up right now to take depositions and need a quick way to learn the client's spin. The same could be said for plaintiff's lawyers, though in reverse.

The most comical part of the website is the "additional resources" page. If you want to learn more about Vioxx, what resources does Merck recommend? First, there's the FDA and the Arthritis Foundation, which perhaps aren't bad choices. But it's hard to say that about the next four places Merck wants to send its visitors: the Manhattan Institute, the American Enterprise Institute, the American Tort Reform Association, and the American Tort Reform Foundation. While those institutions are friends of Merck, certainly, they're hardly the place to go for unbiased information about Vioxx.

I also wonder who designed the website. My guess is a group of Merck lawyers from outside defense firms. I admit it would have been a very interesting assignment.

For more about Merck and Vioxx, see my collected Vioxx posts. Before you ask, yes, I admit it, my information is biased too, as I'm currently working on about 2,300 cases on the plaintiffs' side. The difference is that I'm not afraid to point you to Merck's side of the story. Think they'll link to mine?

Comments

[Angus]

Interesting that this URL takes you to the same site - http://vioxx.trickydns.com/. Shady search marketing by Merck? It certainly looks that way with "trickdns" in the URL.